Water withdrawals per capita in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Water withdrawals per capita was 462.27 cubic meters per person in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
462.27 cubic meters per person
Change on year
down 8.9%
World rank
64th
of 180 countries
All-time high
945.39 cubic meters per person
in 1985
All-time low
462.27 cubic meters per person
in 2023
Years of data
44
1980–2023
Water withdrawals per capita in United Arab Emirates, 1980–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for water withdrawals per capita in United Arab Emirates is 462.27 cubic meters per person, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
The figure is down 8.9% on the previous year and down 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water withdrawals per capita in United Arab Emirates peaked at 945.39 cubic meters per person in 1985 and was at its lowest, 462.27 cubic meters per person, in 2023.
That places United Arab Emirates 64th out of 180 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Water withdrawals per capita in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | cubic meters per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 886.09 cubic meters per person | — |
| 1981 | 891.51 cubic meters per person | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 909.72 cubic meters per person | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 924.14 cubic meters per person | +1.6% |
| 1984 | 935.79 cubic meters per person | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 945.39 cubic meters per person | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 942.63 cubic meters per person | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 929.8 cubic meters per person | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 918.23 cubic meters per person | -1.2% |
| 1989 | 907.78 cubic meters per person | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 898.38 cubic meters per person | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 889.99 cubic meters per person | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 882.57 cubic meters per person | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 876.17 cubic meters per person | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 870.84 cubic meters per person | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 865.83 cubic meters per person | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 872.83 cubic meters per person | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 861.23 cubic meters per person | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 850.43 cubic meters per person | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 840.44 cubic meters per person | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 831.27 cubic meters per person | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 822.61 cubic meters per person | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 814.3 cubic meters per person | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 806.45 cubic meters per person | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 833.04 cubic meters per person | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 857.06 cubic meters per person | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 816.78 cubic meters per person | -4.7% |
| 2007 | 743.98 cubic meters per person | -8.9% |
| 2008 | 678.75 cubic meters per person | -8.8% |
| 2009 | 651.74 cubic meters per person | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 643.46 cubic meters per person | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 633.09 cubic meters per person | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 620.4 cubic meters per person | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 605.8 cubic meters per person | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 587.34 cubic meters per person | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 568.46 cubic meters per person | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 556.37 cubic meters per person | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 541.65 cubic meters per person | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 544.41 cubic meters per person | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 536.71 cubic meters per person | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 527.21 cubic meters per person | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 500.63 cubic meters per person | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 507.42 cubic meters per person | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 462.27 cubic meters per person | -8.9% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 462.27 cubic meters per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 376.78 cubic meters per person, 1.2× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 462.27 cubic meters per person is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 315.42 cubic meters per person, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 919.11 cubic meters per person | 886.09 cubic meters per person | 945.39 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 870.87 cubic meters per person | 840.44 cubic meters per person | 898.38 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 785.6 cubic meters per person | 651.74 cubic meters per person | 857.06 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 583.77 cubic meters per person | 536.71 cubic meters per person | 643.46 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 499.38 cubic meters per person | 462.27 cubic meters per person | 527.21 cubic meters per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 61 Mauritius 486.03 cubic meters per person compare
- 62 Hungary 476.02 cubic meters per person compare
- 63 Colombia 474.71 cubic meters per person compare
- 65 Slovenia 447.51 cubic meters per person compare
- 66 Russia 445.68 cubic meters per person compare
- 67 Bhutan 429.81 cubic meters per person compare
More environment data for United Arab Emirates
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -80.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -85.4 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.331 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.5 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water withdrawals per capita in United Arab Emirates?
- Water withdrawals per capita in United Arab Emirates was 462.27 cubic meters per person in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest water withdrawals per capita recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 945.39 cubic meters per person in 1985.
- What is the lowest water withdrawals per capita recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 462.27 cubic meters per person in 2023.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for water withdrawals per capita?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 64th out of 180 countries with data for 2023.
- Is water withdrawals per capita rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Water withdrawals per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Water withdrawn each year for agriculture, industry, and municipal uses, divided by the population.